The Czech Republic’s relationship with the European Union continues to prove financially beneficial, with the country receiving 83.2 billion Czech crowns more than it contributed to EU funds last year. The majority of this net gain – 74.2 billion crowns – came from the NextGeneration EU (NGEU) recovery plan, designed to boost post-pandemic economic recovery.
Since joining the EU in May 2004, the Czech Republic has maintained a significantly positive financial balance. While contributing 936.6 billion crowns to the European budget, the country has received 2.01 trillion crowns in return. This translates to a net benefit of 1.07 trillion crowns, not including NGEU funds. When factoring in the recovery plan, the total net gain rises to an impressive 1.22 trillion crowns.
Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura highlighted that NGEU program receipts nearly doubled compared to the previous year. “We are primarily utilizing the National Recovery Plan funds for the Czech Republic’s modernization and digitalization efforts,” Stanjura stated.
Breaking down last year’s figures, the Czech Republic received 69 billion crowns directly from the EU budget while contributing 60 billion crowns. These funds were primarily channeled through structural funds, the Cohesion Fund, and the Common Agricultural Policy.
The NextGenerationEU program, which distributes over 800 billion euros across EU member states, continues to play a crucial role in addressing the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.